Massimo Ambrosini

Massimo Ambrosini (born May 29, 1977 in Pesaro) is an Italian footballer who plays for A.C. Milan as a defensive midfielder. He is also the vice-captain and is known as a hardworking player, who took time to break into the AC Milan ranks.

Career

Club

Ambrosini began his career with Serie B side Cesena and graduated to their first team at the age of 17 during the 1994/95 season. A.C. Milan coach Fabio Capello then won the race to sign him the following year, and despite facing tough competition to break into the all-star Milan side, Ambrosini was given a handful of games as the team romped to the Serie A championship. Only used marginally more in 1996/97, Ambrosini was sent on loan to Vicenza, where he was a key member of the team that successfully preserved their Serie A status. Recalled to the San Siro, Ambrosini at last made a first-team place his own as Milan won back the Serie A championship in 1999. A regular the following term, he then saw his chances limited by a troublesome knee injury before returning to full fitness to help Milan win the Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League, where he replaced Rui Costa in the 87th minute at Old Trafford.

In 2003/04, although unable to establish himself as a first-team starter due to a series of niggling injuries and a loss of form, Ambrosini made 20 Serie A appearances and 1 goal - predominantly as a substitute - as Milan captured their 17th Serie A championship. In March 2005, he renewed his contract at the San Siro, committing himself until June 2008.

In 2004/05, he struggled to break into Milan first team, and only made 22 Serie A appearances, scoring 1 goal. However, it is his late goal that took Milan to the UEFA Champions League final. With Milan losing 2-0, a scoreline which would have sent the match to extra time as Milan defeated PSV with the same score in the San Siro, Ambrosini scored a header in 2'nd half injury time to bring the score to 2-1 and give Milan the 3-2 aggregate lead. PSV immedeately responded with a goal of their own to tie the aggregate score at 3-3, but Milan advanced to the final on the away goals rule. However, Ambrosini missed the final in Istanbul with yet another injury as Milan were defeated on penalties by Liverpool.

In 2005/06, he again suffered a series of injuries which limited him to just 13 Serie A appearances and 1 goal, thus making him out of contention for Italy squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

In 2006/07, Ambrosini fully recovered from his injury. He wasn't an immediate first-team choice, but following a series of stunning performances, he eventually made it and forced Carlo Ancelotti to change his formation from 4-3-1-2 to 4-3-2-1 (alternatively, 4-4-1-1). He has scored two decisive goals from his head in Serie-A so far, against Sampdoria and Atalanta B.C.. He was also a key member to Milan's victory over Bayern Munich and Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, balancing the game for Milan through his vision and leadership skills. It was also his vision that ensured Milan a place in the final. Having stolen the ball from Manchester United, Ambrosini immediately passed to a free Alberto Gilardino. Gilardino scored to make it 3-0, thus ending United's hope of winning the trophy.

Ambrosini originally intended to join Fiorentina due to lack of first-team choice, but changed his mind after the Champions League semifinal against Manchester United. He renewed his contract with Milan until 2010. Shortly after, he started in the final of the 2006-2007 Champions League and played a strong game in Milan's 2-1 win over Liverpool FC.

National

He made his international debut in April 1999 against Croatia and was part of the Italian squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics and at Euro 2000, which ended with an appearance as a substitute in the final loss to France. Ambrosini was unavailable for selection for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals through injury and then failed to break into the squad for the Euro 2004 finals.

On the 16th of August 2006, Ambrosini earned his 23rd cap for Italy after almost 2 years of absence from the Italian squad. For this match, he was given the captain's armband by coach Roberto Donadoni in the absence of regular contenders for the armband.

Honours

with Milan

* Serie A : 1996, 1999, 2004
* Coppa Italia: 2003
* Italian Super Cup: 2004
* UEFA Champions League: 2003, 2007
* European Super Cup: 2003, 2007

with Italy

* European Football Championship Runner-Up: 2000

Trivia

* Ambrosini is a fan of American football.
* His nicknames are "Max" and "Ambro."
* The Italian magazine Tuttosport praised him as the "Milan captain of the game, the soul of the midfield" for his appearance in the first leg of the 2003 Coppa Italia, A.S. Roma vs. A.C. Milan.